Health and Beauty tips

Cranberry Juice Helps to Prevent Urinary Infections in Women

Studies have shown that drinking cranberry juice is a useful home remedy for preventing and treating UTIs in women. Organic elements of cranberries such as quinic acid and citric acid act as antibacterial agents to help eliminate bacteria from the bladder.

Urinary tract infections can be quite painful. Women may feel like they need to urinate frequently, have a burning pain while urinating and may even see blood in the urine. Medical treatment is not always helpful, so drinking cranberry juice can serve as an effective home remedy for preventing bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder so that infections aren’t as likely to occur.

The exact dosage of cranberry juice hasn’t yet been set, and the sour taste may keep many women from taking it. Fortunately, effective concentrated cranberry capsules or tablets are now available. The following steps are recommended by health care professionals for preventing Urinary Tract Infections:

• Drink seven ounces of cranberry juice daily. Remember to buy 100% cranberry juice, not cranberry juice drinks or cocktails containing little cranberry juice and plenty of sugar.
• If you prefer, you can take cranberry juice tablets. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.
• Drink much water. Subsequent frequent urination will flush the urethra frequently and remove the bacteria.
• Wipe your genital area from front to back after a bowel movement or urination. This will help keep bacteria from the vagina and anus away from your urethra.
• Take showers instead of baths.

While research supports that cranberry juice prevents urinary tract infections in women, it may not be true for men or children. Women should consult their doctors if they are taking medications because drinking large amounts of cranberry juice may interact with some medications such as anticoagulants. Regular drinking of cranberry juice seems to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infections in women.

Unsightly spider veins and varicose veins often keep women from displaying their legs and wearing flirty skirts even during summer months. For many people, this condition is simply a cosmetic concern. For other people, varicose veins can cause aching pain and discomfort. Varicose and spider veins may also signal a higher risk of circulatory system disorders.

The main factor for developing varicose or spider veins is genes, lifestyle, habits and hormones play a minor part. If a man or woman is born with weak vein valves, their vein walls may weaken and begin to disintegrate, causing unsightly veins. Appearance of spider and varicose veins can also be attributed to a surplus of hormones in the body at times of puberty, pregnancy and menopause; obesity, aging, injury to the legs and excessive time spent standing.

Fortunately, it is possible to treat these pesky, unattractive blood vessels in several ways without disrupting the body’s circulatory system. Several treatments available for spider and varicose veins include:

Sclerotherapy. A special solution is injected into small- and medium-sized varicose veins. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade. Although the same vein may need to be injected more than once, sclerotherapy is effective if done correctly. Sclerotherapy doesn’t require anesthesia and can be conducted in a doctor’s office.

Laser surgery works by aiming intense light at the spider and varicose veins. Lasers are exceptionally accurate and cause damage only to the targeted veins, causing them to disappear painlessly and without affecting any of the surrounding tissue.

Vein stripping. This procedure involves removing a long vein through small incisions. This is an outpatient procedure for most people. Removing the vein doesn’t affect circulation in the leg because veins deeper in the leg take care of the larger volumes of blood.

By the way, there are some simple things you can do to prevent spider and varicose veins. They are as follows:

• Don’t cross your legs when sitting.
• Avoid standing for a prolonged period of time.
• Wear sunscreen during the exposure to UV-rays.
• Exercise regularly, especially by walking and running
• Avoid tight clothing.
• Control your weight.

Suffer from menstrual cramps? Here are some effective ways to relieve the menstrual pain.

1. Take anti-inflammatory pain killers. There are many over-the-counter drugs sold for menstrual cramps so it won’t be a problem to find the product that best matches your symptoms. Some women find that non-specific painkillers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are just as effective and are cheaper. For maximum relief, take painkillers before the pain gets too bad.

2. Lie down if possible at the first sign of pain, and place a hot water bottle or a warm heating pad on your abdomen or take a relaxing warm bath.

3. Try OTC remedies or coffee. Caffeine is also effective in reducing cramps.

4. Minimize stress where possible and get enough rest. The less stress, the more resources your body has available to deal with the problem. Be nice to your body, and it’ll be nicer to you.

5. Try progesterone cream. Progesterone can relieve cramping and improve a number of other PMS symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety-depression, mood swings, headaches and migraines. A good brand of cream to try available without prescription is Pro-Gest. Begin applying according to the directions at the onset of symptoms, and continue until your period arrives, or is due to begin. Remember that birth control pills or Depo-Provera, as well as body creams or lotions containing mineral oil or petrolatum will interfere or block the effect of progesterone.

6. Massage can ease menstrual cramps. Gently rub your abdomen, or ask your partner to massage your back.

7. Exercise routines, practiced throughout your cycle, but particularly a few days before the onset of your period may help to reduce pain. Exercise also helps to keep the blood flowing in your pelvis, easing that heavy, bloated feeling. Gentle exercise from the likes of yoga (especially hip-openers), aerobic and breathing exercises can be a great help for menstrual cramping.

A tremendous amount of research is under way all over the world to determine the cause of breast cancer and to develop effective ways of its prevention. Right now, though, we lack this knowledge. However, researchers are working to explore how “external” (air, water, food, danger, music, noise, people, and stress) and “internal” (genetics, hormones, illnesses, feelings and thoughts) factors may affect our health and possibly the risk of developing breast cancer. Some of these factors, such as genetic makeup and some medicines have proved to directly influence breast health. The impact of other, indirect factors, such as air quality, exercise, and thoughts are less well understood.

Some factors as gender, age, the latter being the biggest risk factor for breast cancer, are beyond our control. But there is also the good news as by taking control of some lifestyle factors, you can lower your risk of developing breast cancer. Specialists advise to consider the following lifestyle changes:

Stay physically active. Regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes 4-5 days a week) has been shown to protect against breast cancer.

Limit alcohol. There is a strong link between alcohol consumption (regardless of the type of alcohol consumed) and breast cancer. Thus, it would be wise to limit alcohol to less than one drink a day or avoid alcohol altogether in order to help protect against breast cancer.

Maintain your health care. Regular screening tests for breast cancer, such as an annual mammogram and a breast exam during your annual checkup, increase the likelihood that your doctor will find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable.

Supplement wisely. Vitamin D, folic acid and antioxidants may help decrease risk.

Reduce exposure to xenoestrogens. These chemicals with estrogen-like activity are found in common pesticides and industrial pollutants and as hormone residues in meat, poultry and dairy products.

Avoid exposure to radiation. Limiting the number of chest x-rays, especially at a young age, may decrease the risk of breast cancer.

Talk to your doctor. If you have a family history of breast cancer, your personal risk is increased. Let your doctor know your family history, and discuss other ways you can help to prevent breast cancer.

Remember that the best defense against breast cancer is a good offense and many things can be done to reduce your risk.

Named after their developer, Dr. Kegel, kegel exercises are believed to tone up and strengthen the pubococcygeus muscle (PC muscle). This muscle supports the following organs in women: urethra, bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum; and in men: urethra, bladder, penis, and rectum. These exercises can be learnt by anyone and, done on a regular basis, can help correct impotence and urinary problems. The results are always beneficial with enough time and effort.

Benefits of Kegel exercises for women:

• Easier to climax.
• More intense orgasms.
• Elevated sensitivity in the vagina, heightening your sexual satisfaction.
• Lower risk of incontinence (i.e. not being able to hold your pee in).
• Easier childbirth and vaginal muscles will heal faster after birth.
• Improve sex for your male partner by being able to tighten harder around his penis.

For Men:

• Stronger erection.
• More Intense Orgasms.
• Increased power of ejaculation.
• Lower risk of impotence.

You can do kegels right at your desk, even right now. Tighten your PC muscles and hold for a count of eight, then slowly release and repeat 8 times. The PC muscle is the one you flex when you want to pee and are trying not to. Please note that Kegel exercises are normally not done while urinating. Another good time to do kegels, is when you are the passenger in a car. Keep a calendar and give yourself a check mark each time you do the exercises to keep yourself motivated. If you stop doing the exercises, start again! Just remember it takes regular practice to see the results.

Most women have ever experienced vaginitis which is characterized with intense itching and soreness accompanied by a thick white discharge. While yeast infections can often be treated successfully at home, it’s important to be sure that yeast is really the culprit. Infection with other types of organisms, which may require treatment with prescription medication, can often be accompanied with symptoms similar to those of a yeast infection. If you’re sure you have a yeast infection, you may want to try the following home remedies:

Dry your vaginal area thoroughly after bathing or showering, because the best medium for yeast organisms is a warm and moist one.

Wear “breathable” cotton and loose pants, and avoid wearing panties, pants, or hose that fit tightly in the vaginal area.

Avoid harsh soaps, “feminine hygiene” sprays, and perfumed products. the alcohol and other chemicals in these products cause irritation and alter the pH balance of the vagina, allowing yeast to flourish.

Wash up extra carefully before lovemaking and ask your sexual partner to do the same.

Avoid routine douching. Women who douche frequently may actually increase their risk for yeast infections by altering the vagina’s pH balance.

Rethink your contraception. Women who take birth control pills or use contraceptive sponges appear to be at increased risk for developing yeast infections.

Have both partners treated. Often, men who harbor yeast organisms show no symptoms. So when one partner is treated for a yeast infection, the other should be treated at the same time to avoid reinfection. Couples who make love before a yeast infection has been completely cured should also use condoms during intercourse (even if another form of contraception is being used) to prevent passing the infection.

Practice good hygiene. Yeast can be passed to other people apart from sexual partners through shared baths or sharing towels.

Avoid stressful situations. They can provoke infection.